Best Bars in OC for Cinco de Mayo

This may seem like an odd selection for a place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. After all, it doesn’t have a Mexican theme or name. However, it has two things that are essential for any Cinco de Mayo celebration: big drinks and a party atmosphere. Let’s face it, you can get tequila and Mexican beer anywhere, but you can’t get the Mutt Lynch’s atmosphere just anywhere. Plus, this place is right by the water in Newport Beach if the giant drinks aren’t enough reason to go here.

If you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, chances are you’re looking for margaritas. Well, it’s hard to find a better place for margaritas than one that includes the beverage in its name. Solita has a great selection of tequila and specializes in creative margaritas as well as Mexican cuisine. You can get your favorite Mexican foods like burritos and enchiladas. You can also get something called El Panzon – described as a “Mexican calzone stuffed with meat and cheese.” That sounds like the perfect accompaniment to a margarita or Mexican beer that you will probably enjoy in excess.

Fred’s has a lot of reasons to be your Cinco de May destination. First, when you look at the menu, you’ll see all of your Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos and enchiladas. You’ll also see an impressive list of margaritas from the classic to something called a horney grandma made with Hornitos and Grand Marnier. Add to this the fact that Fred’s has an awesome patio that overlooks the beach and you have a place that’s pretty tough to beat for the day’s festivities.

If you’re looking for a different kind of atmosphere for your celebration, Wild Goose Tavern is the place for you. This is a bar decorated to make it feel like a hunting lodge – complete with a couple jackalopes. It’s not your typical Cinco de Mayo environment, but it will certainly fit the bill for your celebration with tacos, taquitos and, of course, margaritas. One of the margaritas here is a spicy pomegranate margarita (with serrano-honey syrup) that will go great with the tacos.

The Baja-style cuisine would be a good enough reason to go to Coyote Grill for Cinco de Mayo. This place also has specials on other essentials for the occasion: margaritas and Coronas. In addition, the patio overlooks the beach and provides some of the most spectacular views in Orange County. If you plan to go here, call ahead to get your name on the list. This will reduce the time you may have to wait to get into this cozy place.